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The Confession of a Child of the Century — Volume 2
The Confession of a Child of the Century — Volume 2

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of The Confession of a Child of the Century — Volume 2 is here in full — 258 sentences across 52 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Alfred de Musset • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The Confession of a Child of the Century — Volume 2
Context Illustration Reading 1/51 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE THORNS OF LOVE I have now to recount what happened to my love, and the change that took place in me.
What reason can I give for it?
None, except as I repeat the story and as I say: "It is the truth."
For two days, neither more nor less, I was Madame Pierson's lover.
One fine night I set out and traversed the road that led to her house.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Confession of a Child of the Century — Volume 2

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of The Confession of a Child of the Century — Volume 2 is here in full — 258 sentences across 52 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/51 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE THORNS OF LOVE I have now to recount what happened to my love, and the change that took place in me.
/ðə θɔːrnz ʌv lʌv aɪ hæv naʊ tuː rɪˈkaʊnt wʌt ˈhæpənd tuː maɪ lʌv ənd ðə tʃeɪndʒ ðæt tʊk pleɪs ɪn miː/
Line 2
What reason can I give for it?
/wʌt ˈriːzən kæn aɪ ɡɪv fɔːr ɪt/
Line 3
None, except as I repeat the story and as I say: "It is the truth."
/nʌn ɪkˈsept æz aɪ rɪˈpiːt ðə ˈstɔːri ənd æz aɪ seɪ ɪt ɪz ðə truːθ/
Line 4
For two days, neither more nor less, I was Madame Pierson's lover.
Line 5
One fine night I set out and traversed the road that led to her house.
/wʌn faɪn naɪt aɪ set aʊt ənd ˈtrævərst ðə roʊd ðæt led tuː hɜːr haʊs/

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

change verb US /tʃeɪndʒ/

cause to change; make different; cause a transformation

From this reading “THE THORNS OF LOVE I have now to recount what happened to my love, and the change that took place in me.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
except preposition US /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading “None, except as I repeat the story and as I say: "It is the truth."”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
happened verb US /ˈhæpənd/

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading “THE THORNS OF LOVE I have now to recount what happened to my love, and the change that took place in me.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lover noun US /ˈlʌvər/

a person who loves someone or is loved by someone

From this reading “For two days, neither more nor less, I was Madame Pierson's lover.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
recount verb US /rɪˈkaʊnt/

narrate or give a detailed account of

From this reading “THE THORNS OF LOVE I have now to recount what happened to my love, and the change that took place in me.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
repeat verb US /rɪˈpiːt/

to say, state, or perform again

From this reading “None, except as I repeat the story and as I say: "It is the truth."”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thorns noun US /θɔːrnz/

plural of “thorn” — something that causes irritation and annoyance

From this reading “THE THORNS OF LOVE I have now to recount what happened to my love, and the change that took place in me.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
traversed verb US /ˈtrævərst/

past form of “traverse” — travel across or pass over

From this reading “One fine night I set out and traversed the road that led to her house.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

All words in this reading · 52

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading THE THORNS OF LOVE I have now to recount what happened to my love, and the change that took place in me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading None, except as I repeat the story and as I say: "It is the truth."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading What reason can I give for it?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
changeverbUS /tʃeɪndʒ/

cause to change; make different; cause a transformation

From this reading THE THORNS OF LOVE I have now to recount what happened to my love, and the change that took place in me.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading For two days, neither more nor less, I was Madame Pierson's lover.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading None, except as I repeat the story and as I say: "It is the truth."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
fineadjectiveUS /faɪn/

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading One fine night I set out and traversed the road that led to her house.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading What reason can I give for it?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
giveverbUS /ɡɪv/

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading What reason can I give for it?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
happenedverbUS /ˈhæpənd/

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading THE THORNS OF LOVE I have now to recount what happened to my love, and the change that took place in me.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading THE THORNS OF LOVE I have now to recount what happened to my love, and the change that took place in me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading One fine night I set out and traversed the road that led to her house.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading One fine night I set out and traversed the road that led to her house.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading THE THORNS OF LOVE I have now to recount what happened to my love, and the change that took place in me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading THE THORNS OF LOVE I have now to recount what happened to my love, and the change that took place in me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading None, except as I repeat the story and as I say: "It is the truth."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading What reason can I give for it?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
lednounUS /led/

diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used

From this reading One fine night I set out and traversed the road that led to her house.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lessadverbUS /les/

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading For two days, neither more nor less, I was Madame Pierson's lover.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LOVEnounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading THE THORNS OF LOVE I have now to recount what happened to my love, and the change that took place in me.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lovernounUS /ˈlʌvər/

a person who loves someone or is loved by someone

From this reading For two days, neither more nor less, I was Madame Pierson's lover.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MadamenounUS /ˈmædəm/

title used for a married Frenchwoman

From this reading For two days, neither more nor less, I was Madame Pierson's lover.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading THE THORNS OF LOVE I have now to recount what happened to my love, and the change that took place in me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading For two days, neither more nor less, I was Madame Pierson's lover.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading THE THORNS OF LOVE I have now to recount what happened to my love, and the change that took place in me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading For two days, neither more nor less, I was Madame Pierson's lover.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
nightnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading One fine night I set out and traversed the road that led to her house.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
NonepronounUS /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading None, except as I repeat the story and as I say: "It is the truth."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading For two days, neither more nor less, I was Madame Pierson's lover.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading THE THORNS OF LOVE I have now to recount what happened to my love, and the change that took place in me.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE THORNS OF LOVE I have now to recount what happened to my love, and the change that took place in me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One fine night I set out and traversed the road that led to her house.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading One fine night I set out and traversed the road that led to her house.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Pierson's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For two days, neither more nor less, I was Madame Pierson's lover.

Pending verification
placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading THE THORNS OF LOVE I have now to recount what happened to my love, and the change that took place in me.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
reasonnounUS /ˈriːzən/

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading What reason can I give for it?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
recountverbUS /rɪˈkaʊnt/

narrate or give a detailed account of

From this reading THE THORNS OF LOVE I have now to recount what happened to my love, and the change that took place in me.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
repeatverbUS /rɪˈpiːt/

to say, state, or perform again

From this reading None, except as I repeat the story and as I say: "It is the truth."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
roadnounUS /roʊd/

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading One fine night I set out and traversed the road that led to her house.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading None, except as I repeat the story and as I say: "It is the truth."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
setverbUS /set/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading One fine night I set out and traversed the road that led to her house.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
storynounUS /ˈstɔːri/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading None, except as I repeat the story and as I say: "It is the truth."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE THORNS OF LOVE I have now to recount what happened to my love, and the change that took place in me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE THORNS OF LOVE I have now to recount what happened to my love, and the change that took place in me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
THORNSnounUS /θɔːrnz/

plural of “thorn” — something that causes irritation and annoyance

From this reading THE THORNS OF LOVE I have now to recount what happened to my love, and the change that took place in me.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading THE THORNS OF LOVE I have now to recount what happened to my love, and the change that took place in me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
tookverbUS /tʊk/

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading THE THORNS OF LOVE I have now to recount what happened to my love, and the change that took place in me.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
traversedverbUS /ˈtrævərst/

past form of “traverse” — travel across or pass over

From this reading One fine night I set out and traversed the road that led to her house.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
truthnounUS /truːθ/

a fact that has been verified

From this reading None, except as I repeat the story and as I say: "It is the truth."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading For two days, neither more nor less, I was Madame Pierson's lover.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading For two days, neither more nor less, I was Madame Pierson's lover.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading THE THORNS OF LOVE I have now to recount what happened to my love, and the change that took place in me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 8 of The Confession of a Child of the Century — Volume 2 by Alfred de Musset holds 258 sentences, grouped into 52 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 8 of The Confession of a Child of the Century — Volume 2 contain?

Chapter 8 holds 258 sentences of The Confession of a Child of the Century — Volume 2, unabridged, divided into 52 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of The Confession of a Child of the Century — Volume 2 by Alfred de Musset exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 258 sentences, grouped into 52 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 8 of The Confession of a Child of the Century — Volume 2?

Work through the 52 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 52 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading The Confession of a Child of the Century — Volume 2

Common questions about reading The Confession of a Child of the Century — Volume 2 by Alfred de Musset on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Confession of a Child of the Century — Volume 2?

Yes. All 1442 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #3940 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Confession of a Child of the Century — Volume 2 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #3940, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Confession of a Child of the Century — Volume 2 take to read?

About 120 minutes of reading across 289 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Confession of a Child of the Century — Volume 2 section by section

How to work through The Confession of a Child of the Century — Volume 2 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 12 chapters of The Confession of a Child of the Century — Volume 2 to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Confession of a Child of the Century — Volume 2

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Confession of a Child of the Century — Volume 2, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Father
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Confession of a Child of the Century — Volume 2; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Lived
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Confession of a Child of the Century — Volume 2; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Country
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Confession of a Child of the Century — Volume 2; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Distance
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Confession of a Child of the Century — Volume 2; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.